Overview

The studies listed on this page establish estimates for the cost and performance of combustion and gasification based power plants as well as options for co-generating synthetic natural gas and fuels, all with and without carbon dioxide capture and storage. Several ranks of coal are being assessed in process configurations that are based on technology that could be constructed today such that the plant could be operational in the 2012 - 2015 timeframe.

These results are considered to be the most comprehensive set of publicly available data to date. As such, additional analyses will be added and existing reports updated as necessary to keep this information as current as possible. Visit this page frequently to see the latest in baseline performance and cost estimates.

Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Plants

Volume 1 - Bituminous Coal and Natural Gas to Electricity (Nov 2010)
The Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Power Plants, Volume 1: Bituminous Coal and Natural Gas to Electricity(Sept 2013) [PDF-6.66MB], establishes performance and cost data for fossil energy power systems, specifically integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants fueled with bituminous coal, pulverized coal (PC) plants fueled with bituminous coal, and natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plants all with and without carbon capture and sequestration. The analyses were performed on a consistent technical and economic basis that accurately reflects current market conditions for coal-fueled plants starting operation in 2012 and natural gas-fueled plants starting operation in 2010. The study serves as a benchmark to track the progress of DOE Advanced Power Systems R&D and as a baseline for analyzing fossil energy plant options. This is believed to provide the most comprehensive set of cost and performance data using bituminous coal available in the public literature to date. The cost and performance data were compiled from published reports, information obtained from vendor quotes and users of the technology, and data from designing and building utility projects. It was peer-reviewed by industry experts, academia, and government research and regulatory agencies. In addition to the final report, a presentation that summarizes the results a desk reference that contains summary sheets for each case and technology, and an interactive tool that can be used to quickly compare performance and economic results of the various cases are also available.

Volume 2 - Coal to Synthetic Natural Gas and Ammonia (Various Coal Ranks)(July 2011)The Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Power Plants, Volume 2: Coal to Synthetic Natural Gas and Ammonia(July 2011) [PDF-2.6MB], establishes performance and cost data for coal fueled plants producing synthetic natural gas and ammonia. The plants are based on a dry-feed entrained-flow gasifier and include cases using bituminous, sub-bituminous, and lignite coals. All configurations were studied with and without carbon sequestration. The analyses were performed on a consistent technical and economic basis that accurately reflects current market conditions for plants starting operation in 2012. This is believed to provide the most comprehensive set of cost and performance data available in the public literature to date. The cost and performance data were compiled from published reports, information obtained from vendor quotes and users of the technology, and data from designing and building projects.

Volume 3 - Low-Rank Coal to Electricity (March 2011)The Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Plants - Volume 3: Low Rank Coal and Natural Gas to Electricity contains three separate reports including 28 cases: integrated gasification combined cycle plants (Volume 3a), combustion plants (Volume 3b), and natural gas combined cycle plants (Volume 3c). This study establishes performance and cost data for fossil energy power systems, specifically integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), combustion, and natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plants all with and without carbon capture and sequestration. Most of the coal fired plants are studied using both Rosebud Montana Powder River Basin Coal (PRB) at a Montana site at an elevation of 3,400 feet and North Dakota Lignite (NDL) at a mine-mouth North Dakota site at an elevation of 1,900 feet. NGCC plants are also studied at both locations. The analyses were performed on a consistent technical and economic basis that accurately reflects current market conditions for coal-fueled plants starting operation in 2012 and natural gas-fueled plants starting operation in 2010. The study serves as a benchmark to track the progress of DOE Advanced Power Systems R&D and as a baseline for analyzing fossil energy plant options. This study is believed to provide the most comprehensive set of cost and performance data using low rank coals available in the public literature to date. The cost and performance data were compiled from published reports, information obtained from vendor quotes and users of the technology, and data from designing and building utility projects. Selected study cases were peer-reviewed by vendors, industry experts, academia, and government research and regulatory agencies. In addition to the report sections, an overview executive summary and presentation summarizing the results of all three reports are also available.

Volume 4 - Bituminous Coal to Liquid Fuels with Carbon CaptureThe Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Power Plants, Volume 4: Coal-to-Liquids via Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (Oct 2014) [PDF-1.72MB], establishes performance and cost data for coal-to-liquids systems, specifically by means of gasification and Fischer-Tropsch reaction. The analyses were performed on a consistent technical and economic basis to assess the design and financial performance of a commercial-scale coal-to-Fischer-Tropsch liquids facility. The cost and performance data were compiled from published reports, information obtained from vendor quotes and users of the technology, and data from designing and building utility and refining projects.